"Highly focussed“ ahead of Bremen test

It’s first against 16th in Bayern’s first home game after the winter break as they take on Werder Bremen on Sunday afternoon (15:30 CET, live on Ticker and Webradio). Yet a deeper look into the standings shows that in one respect, this is a contest between two of the top teams: the current best defence in the Bundesliga (Bayern/12 goals) versus the third-best (Werder/21 goals). And the record champions are well aware of that.

“Florian Kohfeldt has got the team well-organised defensively,” said Jupp Heynckes, impressed by the work of his counterpart at Bremen. The FCB head coach studied the Green-Whites’ 1-1 draw against Hoffenheim last week closely. “They were clearly the better side in the second half and played some really good football,” summarised Heynckes. “We therefore not only need to prepare well but also be highly focussed.”

Lewandowski “fit”

“Be on it from the first minute,” was the rallying cry from Robert Lewandowski for this north-south battle. The Bundesliga’s leading goalscorer, who has scored more goals this season (15) than the entire Bremen team put together (14), is back in contention after overcoming the patella problem that he suffered at the start of the year. “I feel very good. I’m fit and I can give 100 percent again,” he told FC Bayern TV.

Lewandowski, who scored both goals in the 2-0 win in the reverse fixture, emphasised the importance of scoring early. “The longer we go without scoring, the more uncomfortable the game will get.” His strike partner Sandro Wagner, who played for Werder between 2010 and 2012, is also wary of Sunday’s opponents. “We need to watch out on the counter. They have pace in attack.” Wagner expects Bremen to “go for it in attack and be brave. They’ve had some good results and played good football in recent weeks.”

Options for Heynckes

Bayern have certainly taken note of that, but they made a good start to the second half of the season themselves with a 3-1 win at Leverkusen and want to build on that in their first home game of 2018. Heynckes has almost a full squad to pick from, with long-term absentees Manuel Neuer and Thiago, David Alaba (illness) and Mats Hummels (training deficit) the only players not available for selection.